Solar power production on an industrial level is accomplished using fields of solar panels which harvest sunlight in order to heat liquid within attached tubing and turn turbines. This electricity is then captured and transported via electrical grids to customers for consumption. While the storage and transport aspects of solar power production are much the same as the processes used by fossil fuel producers, the mechanisms deployed for solar power production are far more “high tech” than many used in the processes of extracting and burning fossil fuels. While the high tech nature of the equipment used allows for more efficient generation, it also creates a more expensive product. This is due to the fact that the equipment involved in the process that controls panel alignment, regulation and system analysis is computerized and highly susceptible to damage. This equipment is attached directly to the panels via power and data cables, and electrical transients that alter the typical power flow to and from this equipment can easily overload the circuitry and cause damage or total destruction. The costs of equipment repair and replacement, as well as the costs of downtime and non-production during peak hours as a result of damage, lead solar power to ultimately cost more than the fossil based fuel production of the same product.

Technological advancements are offering the possibility of significantly reducing the costs associated with solar power production on an industrial level. Through the integration of advanced solar surge protection devices at critical points in the power stream, the damage to equipment as a result of power surges can be reduced or potentially eliminated all together. One of the major sources of solar system damage is lightning strikes to the panels, which ultimately produces a massive power surge. This surge travels along the connected lines from component to component, overloading circuitry and causing internal damage, data loss, fires and explosions. Preventing the electrical surge from reaching attached components offers a great potential for savings for solar farm operators by essentially isolating the damage to just the strike point itself. Solar panels are not the most expensive equipment utilized in the solar power process, and if damage can be isolated to just the panels, the savings realized over time could be significant enough to enable electricity prices to begin to drop below those of fossil fuels.

The discussion of the methods used to generate electricity on a mass scale for public consumption is based upon two specific elements, damage to the environment and cost. The understanding that the burning of fossil fuels produces more environmental damage than solar power production is not debated usually, however much of the public will weigh the options and choose to support a cheaper method of production, as long as the environmental impact is seen as not too great. While this equilibrium continues, technological advancements in solar surge protection devices and other technologies may finally tip the scales to make the choice of clean energy a clear one, allowing solar power to be produced more economically. Raycap is proud to be part of the process that will bring the world better, more sustainable energy choices.